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Implementation of pseudo J-integral based Paris’ law for fatigue cracking in asphalt mixtures and pavements

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Abstract

Pavement analysis and design for fatigue cracking involves a number of practical problems like material assessment/screening and performance prediction. A mechanics-aided method can answer these questions with satisfactory accuracy in a convenient way when it is appropriately implemented. This paper presents two techniques to implement the pseudo J-integral based Paris’ law to evaluate and predict fatigue cracking in asphalt mixtures and pavements. The first technique, quasi-elastic simulation, provides a rational and appropriate reference modulus for the pseudo analysis (i.e., viscoelastic to elastic conversion) by making use of the widely used material property: dynamic modulus. The physical significance of the quasi-elastic simulation is clarified. Introduction of this technique facilitates the implementation of the fracture mechanics models as well as continuum damage mechanics models to characterize fatigue cracking in asphalt pavements. The second technique about modeling fracture coefficients of the pseudo J-integral based Paris’ law simplifies the prediction of fatigue cracking without performing fatigue tests. The developed prediction models for the fracture coefficients rely on readily available mixture design properties that directly affect the fatigue performance, including the relaxation modulus, air void content, asphalt binder content, and aggregate gradation. Sufficient data are collected to develop such prediction models and the R 2 values are around 0.9. The presented case studies serve as examples to illustrate how the pseudo J-integral based Paris’ law predicts fatigue resistance of asphalt mixtures and assesses fatigue performance of asphalt pavements. Future applications include the estimation of fatigue life of asphalt mixtures/pavements through a distinct criterion that defines fatigue failure by its physical significance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Texas A&M Transportation Institute, CE/TTI Bldg 508B, 3135 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-3135, USA

    Xue Luo

  2. School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, MB153A, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK

    Yuqing Zhang

  3. Zachry Department of Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University, CE/TTI Bldg. 503A, 3136 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843-3136, USA

    Robert L. Lytton

Authors
  1. Xue Luo
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  2. Yuqing Zhang
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  3. Robert L. Lytton
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Correspondence to Xue Luo.

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Luo, X., Zhang, Y. & Lytton, R.L. Implementation of pseudo J-integral based Paris’ law for fatigue cracking in asphalt mixtures and pavements. Mater Struct 49, 3713–3732 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0750-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0750-z

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